The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1887-06-30


ever quick, accurate observation and scien-
tiiic information were demanded, he was put
forward. At one time he was a government
exploring engineer in Washington and Oregon
territories. Again, he was one OF three United
States officers sent to tho Crimea in '55 to
study and report on the art of war In Europe.
At this time he was Capt. Mcclellan and one
OF the youngest men who ever attained that
rank I'm the country.
In 1857 he resigned from the army and went
into railroad building and engineering. When
the war broke out in 1851 he was president Of
the eastern division Of the Ohio and Mississippi
railroad, and lived in Cincinnati Knowing
him skilled in military matters, the
Ohio people had him Immediately placed
at tho head Of the volunteer service Of that
state. May II, 1861, he was made q major
general in the United States army, and
assigned to command tho department. OF the
Ohio.
Shortly afserward took place his campaign
in West Virginia He did brilliant service
there, service which resulted in keeping West
Virginia to the Union.
Then It was that he was called to Washing
ton, and placed over the army OF the Potomac
The G. A. R. "boys" OF to-day will shake
their gray heads and smile sadly as they
recall that time when Mcclellan went to
Washington. According to our American
with enthusiasm over him. He was only 81
years old, handsome and dashing. He looked
the perfect soldier People called him the
@Young Napoleon and hailed him as the
country's deliverer. All through McClellan'J
letters to his wife are mentioned the ovations
he received as he passed through to Wash
ington, and even before that After his
success ia West Virginia he writes to Mrs.
Mcclellan:
"Well, it is a proud and glorious thing to
soc n whole people here, simple and unsophis-
ticated, looking up to me as their deliverer
from tyranny"
Again;
al had n very complimentary dispatch
from Cen Scott last night. He said he was
charmed with my energy, movements and
success Pretty vol for the old man"
Placed In command OF the army Of the
Potomac headquarters at Washington, Nc
Clellan Immediately proceeded to restore the
troops to prime fighting condition after the
disaster Of Bull Run. Amy Of the peoples Of
Europe could not have believed that we were
as ignorant of all pertaining to war as we
were when Mcclellan took command at
Washington. Gen Barnard, his chief Of en-
gineers, tells how their corps had to con-
tend with the want Of q special engineer
service There was no properly organized
train for conveying sappers' and miners inn
PIGMENTS, intrenching tools and bridge build
ing appurtenances, etc. Axes were given to
the soldiers TO carry for use in chopping down
trees, building roads, etc. The soldier carried
It till he got tired and then threw ii away.
Next camp he got a new one and so ON.
The transportation OF even the pontoon equi-
page fell on the already overburdened quar-
termasters department. during the heavy
campaigning of the Peninsula.
Mcclellan set Immediately about building
an army from the stragglers OF Bull Run and
from the recruits that poured in at the second
call. The result OF his labors was in time the
splendid army Of the Potomac In the judg.
me- v of various good authorities Mcclellan
wa Me best organizer and equipper OF an army
either side had during the war. In his
memoirs Mcclellan writes of this time Of
preparation;
II passed long days in the saddle and my
nights in the office-a very fatiguing life, but
one which made my power felt everywhere
and by every one"
He felt elatod, too, by his call to Washing
ton. He writes at that time: president
cabinet and Gen. Scott all deferring to me
By some strange operation of magic seen
TO have become the power of the land"
Mcclellan paid particular attention TO thu
defenses OF Washington, and in course Of
time made it a well fortified city. After thu
battle of Bull Run the Confederates were ad
vanced dangerously near to Washington
Centreville, q little town in Virginia only
twenty miles southwest Of Washington, wa
regarded as the key 10 the capital After Bull
Run even that was abandoned, and all thu
Union army went trooping pellmen int
Washington The Confederate forces undei
Beauregard Immediately occupied It. In
deed, Gen. Joseph E Johnston aftorward ad
vanced the Confederate lines even TO Nun
sons Hill, in an air line only six miles from
Washington. For weehs the Confederate
Gag foated on Munson's Hill In plain sight o
the marble dome OF the Capitol
Centreville and Manassas, both far too clos